Three types of home improvements that’ll add extra space

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If you’re considering moving house this year, perhaps there’s another option? If you’re solely planning to move in order to gain more space, perhaps one of home improvement projects will help you to improve your square-footage AND add value to your property…

Sometimes, the home you previously loved and that suited your family’s needs is no longer working for you. When that happens you’ve got two choices – move or improve. And that’s what I want to talk about today; the options you have for improving the home you already own rather than packing up and moving on. 

In the past year or so, I’ve personally made the most of my own property by incorporating my back porch into the home to create a ‘boot room’. I’ve also turned the brick outbuilding into a utility space with a freezer and kitchen units, which has added loads of extra storage space.

It just goes to show that you can take a second look at the spaces you already have (indoors or outside) and see where you can improve the practicality and use.

Here are three projects that’ll add the space you need, with the added bonus of boosting your home’s value:

Extensions

Whether it’s a single-storey or full-height extension, a little utility room to the side of the house or a full-width kitchen-diner, there are so many ways that you can add extra space to your home if you’re willing to carry out an extension. And you can make the extension seem even more spacious by choosing slim framed sliding doors or a lantern roof to allow the natural daylight to come streaming into the new space.

Depending on the project you have in mind, an extension is one of the most involved building projects you can plan, and it’s definitely not a DIY effort. However, it’s also a project that’ll add the most value to your home as brings extra square-footage – or perhaps even turns your three-bed into a four-bed – and adding a bedroom always boosts a property’s value.

There are so many factors to consider when working out how much a timber frame extension costs, from the physical dimensions of the build to the daily labour price of a plasterer, roofer or electrician. Even something as simple as type of wood used in its construction can affect the price that you’ll pay for an extension.

Plus, you’ll probably require planning permission for your build so you’ll have to do your research before you even start to get quotes or drawing up plans. But, if you get the necessary approval and can afford to carry out the build, it’s a great way to give yourself the extra living space needed along with injecting extra value into the property’s resale value.

Use the loft

Again, loft conversions can be quite substantial projects and may need planning permission, especially if you’re adding windows or a dormer to gain more space up there. But it’s also a handy way to gain extra space without needed to give up any of your garden.

You may be able to get an extra bedroom up there, but you will need building regulations approval in order to use it (and include it in your home’s specifications) as a bedroom, hence the need for professional assistance rather than DIY.

However, if you just need an extra storage area, which will free up space in your existing rooms, you can board out your loft to make it usable. This can be a DIY effort, just make sure you use the correct fire-safe type of loft boards and be careful not to compromise your home’s insulation.

Go outside

Another option to gain more space at your property is to use the garden. You could self-erect a basic shed for extra storage or build a larger timber structure to serve as a gym, hobby room or home office.

Again, you’ll need to look into the local regulations for adding sheds and outbuildings to your garden before you start doing any work but, if it’s possible to DIY a building outside, you’ll be able to make more space inside by taking that bulky gym equipment or desk out of your spare room.

Also, having outbuildings can help to increase the value of your home, especially home offices, now that many of us are hybrid-working. Buyers will see the extra storage space as part of the property’s offering and it could increase the saleability of your home in the future.

I hope that these ideas have helped you to realise the options you have available rather than moving house this year – especial if you love your home and don’t really want to move away. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve improved rather than moved – I’d love to hear what projects you’ve done.

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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂